natural makeup

In this video tutorial I’m going to show you how to create an elegant make-up for evening occasions. The focus is on the eyes, where I selected a golden brown palette that suits best blue eyes. I have used different brands of natural cosmetics so you can also see swatches and how the products perform in reality.

I was looking for a black greasy base quite some time, that I would use it as a base for heavier make-up like a dark smoky eye or as a bold line on the eyes. I remembered about Lakshmi, since I knew them for quite a long time with their eye khols in different colours. I tried this black khol and additionally found out that they also have a rose water in their collection. I decided to try both products and found them in the Argo naturals shop where I have found the nice Thanaka powder too. Here are my thoughts about them.

This Lakshmi khol / kohl / kajal comes in an elegant black and gold package and is very precise in its application. It has a really black pigment that stays on for a long time. If you want to smudge it, it’s easy to blend, but you have to do it right when you apply it, until is still greasy.

As you can see from the swatch above it’s really black and very pigmented. However, Lakshmi is not an usual khol liner, but is made from Demeter ghee carbon and you find it in different versions: with or without camphor (this one is for sensitive eyes). Why?

Some history, origins and use of kohl liner:

Kohl is an ancient eye cosmetic, traditionally made by grinding galena (lead sulfide) and other ingredients. It is widely used in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of West Africa as eyeliner to contour and/or darken the eyelids and as mascara for the eyelashes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohl_(cosmetics)

As mentioned above, from historical facts, I’m fascinated about this make-up product even more. It wasn’t used only for beauty purposes but mainly as a protection for eyes against outside influences like: dust, insects, sun,… Even now the khol is meant to serve this purpose since we are affected by different stressors like pollution, air conditioning, computer screens and contact lenses,… “Lakshmi® kajals bind irritating pollen, dust and other particles, allowing them to be washed out by tears. At the same time, the dark colour imparted by the carbon provides protection against excessively strong light.” And because of purified natural camphor some Lakshmi Ayurvedic kajals feel cool; this has antibacterial properties and helps prevent inflammation. Its astringent properties also help rid the eyes of unsightly red capillaries, leaving them clear and bright. Now, you know what is the real purpose of khol, beyond just lining the eyes in black mysterious colour.

Applying kajals is very easy: the cone shape of the product allows you to rim the inside and around the eyes easy and precisely. If you want you can also smudge it with a brush. In this case you can use the product from the larger part of the product.

Lakshmi Rose water

You know that I’m a huge fan of all sorts of toners, mists, waters, hydrolats, you name it 🙂 So Lakshmi rose water was a product to try. It is made as a byproduct of steam distillation from Rosa alba. It has a delicate scent of rose which is quite specific, slightly different from usual roses that I know from other brands. I use it as a toner, before oils or serums and even after to set my make-up.

Anyone using khols / kajals? Please share with me different experiences from different cultures please!

After a longer pause I’m back to you with video make-up tutorials! This time I’ve decided to create a look with focus on lips, which was also the model’s request and so I wanted to share with you this simple yet sophisticated make-up look. You can see how the entire look changes by changing a different colour of the lipstick.

Hope you enjoy it and if you have any questions feel free to contact me!

I finally got my hands on some products from Lily Lolo that I wanted to try. Especially the new Lily Lolo BB cream that was on my “curiosity list”. And since I’m a fan of all-sorts of pressed make-up products, I tried their pressed eyeshadows too. I wanted to try the blushes as well, but were out of stock, so next time along with the new upcoming eye palettes (with pressed eyeshadows of course!).

Although the new age of foundation/tinted moisturisers called BB/CC,… creams is just a marketing strategy for another product, I admit that I find myself well with them. Because overall, they are light in texture, they enhance the skin tone and even if they don’t cover everything perfectly they still give the skin that youthful modern appearance. So if your skin does not have any major imperfections, these products will suit you great. I’m so pleased that Lily Lolo has added this product in their collection. It comes in 2 shades: light and medium and it is packed in a handy and beautiful tube with a pump which I like very much! I have tried the light shade as you can see on the swatch below. On the picture it looks too yellow because it was taken in warm afternoon daylight. The shade is designed very well in my opinion, because it is not too yellow nor too dark for light skin. It gives your skin a nice layer of coverage that I’d describe it light to medium. It does not cover imperfections like red spots or dark circles but it diminishes them a little bit. But after all the point of the bb cream is not to be a full coverage foundation. For those who want it, the mineral powder should be applied over it. I don’t like this option because I tend to dislike the matte powdery finish. I prefer some concealer and a little bit of setting powder, if needed.

Every new season I got ideas and inspirations about new colours to wear. This time I have chosen intuitively a muddy greyish, palette, where colors interact like a wash of water-colour, where there is no dark and hard edge between light and dark. The colours of the same chromatic intensity melt together. Greyish with a green undertone like Voodoo shade or the golden bronze like Brassed off can be a different and beautiful suggestion to crash the “old” known style. I adore the olive green mix with antique gold that Ivy league offers: a very special shade to wear that adds depth to the eyes. Another mix I love is grey-green Voodoo combined with the purplish muddy grey Truffle shuffle…Very chic for autumn. The BB cream is great for this look, where the eyes are the focus. A lift to the eyebrows, clear lips and that’s it!

If I switch to the “technical” side of the eyeshadows, I just praise them! I haven’t expected such a quality. They are very intense in pigmentation, slightly shimmery, but not too much and the nice thing is the shimmery particles are finely grounded. The staying power is impressive even without any primer underneath they lasts for hours.

I also like Lily Lolo Eyebrow duo which comes in 3 shades: light, medium and dark. I have tried the medium one, which is a very well designed shade for brunettes, not too deep but more than enough for most women. The wax included is great too to set everything in place. A big like for this product too! Finally, got a good green option for brows!

Anyone in love with Lily Lolo?

I shop Lily Lolo products in one of my favourite online shops Ecco verde that had in stock the new products a few days after the launch!

I’m so happy to share with you my first video review where I have presented my new discovery, the gorgeous Living nature makeup collection and designed 3 modern looks for different occasions. The sculpted cheeks and a touch of color on lips are these seasons must-have that suits every face. So enjoy and have fun with recreating the looks! Check below the beauty pictures with looks that we made.

We are stepping in a new era where the perception of beauty is changing. Make-up is not meant to be a mask to hide behind, but a definition and enhancement of our true self.

For this new year’s beginning I decided to create a soft make-up look that accentuates the face’s natural features and which brings light and freshness to the face. Depending on how you feel, you can wear it whenever you want, day or evening, your real-self will always radiate through it. The line between strict day and evening make-up is becoming more and more blurred. However, take these guidelines as inspiration and be free to play with them with adding your touch.

Creating the look

I have already worked with Prisha before and I have to say that she has a very inspiring face with interesting face contours that speak about a strong personality. According to the model’s perfect skin and her over-all colors, I have chosen delicate warm tonalities and sheer glowing textures to give a soft natural definition to the face.

I started to massage the face with organic oils, so that the contours and muscles of the face became relaxed and defined. After the massage I blot away any excess of oil from the face with a soft paper tissue.
The main point of this look was to enhance the skin to look its best, first with the massage and then with the appropriate choice of foundation. I have used 2 cream foundations infused with organic oils and plant extracts. One foundation was in her exact skin tone and the other was one shade darker. I applied the lighter shade to the entire face with the kabuki foundation brush. I needed a small amount of foundation and blend it well into the skin to look flawless.
Instead of using powder bronzer, I gave definition to some face points with the darker cream foundation, which made her face look natural and fresh, just like a soft natural shadow. I used the contouring kabuki brush to enhance the cheekbones and the side of the forehead. On the top of the cheekbones I added a touch of coconut oil for a soft glow. I didn’t use any blush, because I wanted to enhance just the natural features.
For the eyes I used a combination of cream and powder eyeshadow. I applied a matte medium dark sandy brown shade in the crease of the eye and blend it towards the brow bone with a flat eyeshadow brush. This way I gave a soft sculpted definition to the eyes. On the lower eyelid I applied with fingers a cream eyeshadow in a neutral rose shade and slightly shimmer texture. I’ve chosen this shade to give sparkle to the eyes, but without heavy colors. I curled the eyelashes but I haven’t applied any mascara. I also brushed her already well-shaped eyebrows. On both lashes and brows I applied just a light coat of coconut oil to get the sheer gel-like texture without looking oily. I wanted the lips to have a hint of color and a nice shine. I used a fruit flavored lip gloss in apricot shade. Even the nails were in harmony with the overall look. The manicurist has chosen a light pastel yellow nail polish with a matte lacquered effect . The hairstylist gave some volume to the hair with nice soft curls. He achieved the nice shine with natural hair products(yeeah!).

This makeup looks its best outside on natural light where you can admire all the soft shades, highlights and shadows of the face. It reminds me at old renaissance paintings of young ladies with radiant chiaroscuro faces.

I like so much the thoughts about beauty that Lauren Brooke has shared with me after seeing this post:

“Dasha, I so love your natural clean beauty inspiration. I have promoted the makeup in a similar way to help women learn that they are beautiful naturally and don’t need to hide or fix themselves with makeup. It seems like in the past women have been taught that they’re not ok as they are, and that they need makeup to hide, change or fix them instead of to enhance the beautiful features they already have.” Lauren Brooke

I couldn’t help myself to write my thoughts concerning the every year’s biggest summer issue – the sun and sun creams. When the first hot sunny days start, populist medias are full of generic articles about sun creams and skin cancer, which want to convince us that the sun is our huge enemy. Stop and think for a moment. Do you really believe that the sun is our big enemy? I belong to the type of people who love going out to enjoy and recharge themselves on a nice sunny day. I’ve never felt (and still don’t) the sun is harmful, for I’ve always enjoyed it. So I wanted to unveil what does stand behind this regular bombardment with fear, skin cancer, forcing with highest SPF creams,…

Let’s start at the beginning. Since ancient times the man worshiped the nature and the sun as a source of life. He knew that the sun is the source of all living existence. Nowadays, the industrialization has torn apart man from nature, from the source. We still think that is normal working entire days under artificial light, eating artificially grown food which haven’t seen the sun and real soil, but chemicals. We apply cosmetics and eat medicines with toxic chemicals poisoning our bodies and much more. Do you really think this is normal? You can still open yourself to hear the other part of this story.

Nowadays, many scientific sources already know that without sun = natural light, there is no real life. The sun is the main source of vitamin D, which is essential for our health and strong immune system. Read further, what Dr. Michael Holick, who opposes to the chemical and cosmetic industry, states in his book: The vitamin D solution.

“Vitamin D is not a vitamin but a hormone. It is unique in that it is made in the skin as a result of exposure to sunlight. Photosynthesis of vitamin D has been occurring on earth for more than 750 million years. Some of the earliest life forms that were exposed to sunlight for their energy requirement were also photosynthesizing vitamin D. Both children and adults have in the past depended on adequate sun exposure to satisfy their vitamin D requirement. It is well documented that at the turn of the last century upwards of 80% of children in the industrialized, polluted cities of northern Europe and northeastern United States suffered from the devastating consequences of vitamin D deficiency rickets. The skin has a large capacity to make vitamin D. Exposure of a person in a bathing suit to a minimal erythemal dose of sunlight, which is typically no more than 15-20 minutes on Cape Cod in June or July at noon time, is the equivalent to taking 20,000 IU of vitamin D orally. It is now well documented that in the absence of any sun exposure 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day is necessary to maintain healthy levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the circulation.”

In addition, have you ever asked yourself, why our grandparents, 40 years ago, while working entire days outside on the sun, without a sun cream, haven’t had any problems with skin cancers? The answer is simple. Since the sun is the source of life, it has also provided our skin a great self-protecting mechanism, in order not to get sunburns. This mechanism is the nice brown tan, that should be accomplished GRADUALLY. When we expose to the sun gradually, our skin becomes firmer, absorbs and produces a lot of vitamin D. Step by step, it give us a brown color, which is the self-protective barrier that prevents us to obtain burns.

Unfortunately, man has changed the direction of living and put us in closed buildings where we cannot see the light, except artificial one. And here comes the main problem about sun exposing. The industry has invented chemical cocktails that act on your skin as “protection”, so that you can quickly go out from your office, directly exposing yourself to high temperatures in ultra hot vacation destinations. People don’t go out on the sun step by step, but directly exposing their body to a high amount of sun radiation. This is not normal, especially for pale skin, non-adapted to the sun. Applying a sun cream, full of harmful substances, that acts on our body with preventing the skin to get the tan, it’s not a happy news. Have you ever asked yourself what does a cream like this contain and how does affect and block your body functions, so that the sun cannot do its natural process? Don’t you think there is a more logical connection between skin cancer and chemical sunscreens?

“Incidence rates of melanoma have risen especially steeply since the mid-1970s. The two principal strategies for reduction of risk of melanoma and other skin cancers during this period were sun avoidance and use of chemical sunscreens. Rising trends in the incidence of and mortality from melanoma have continued since the 1970s and 1980s, when sunscreens with high sun protection factors became widely used. Indeed, the Garland brothers strongly believe that the increased use of chemical sunscreens is the primary cause of the skin cancer epidemic. Recent studies by them have shown a higher rate of melanoma among men who regularly use sunscreens and a higher rate of basal cell carcinoma among women using sunscreens. This was confirmed by another study group who found that ‘always users’ of sunscreens had 3.7 times as many malignant melanomas as those ‘never using’.”

This makes sense to me! I want to point out another fact concerning skin cancer:

“British doctors R Marks and D Whiteman are unconvinced of the sunlight/melanoma link. They point out that:– Melanoma can be found on ovaries– Melanoma occurs less frequently on sun-exposed areas– In Japan forty percent of pedal melanomas are on the soles of the feet– There is 5-times more melanoma in Scotland on the feet than on the hands– And melanoma in Orkney and Shetland is ten times that of the Mediterranean islands.Other clinicians agree. Karnauchow says: “The simplistic idea of a sun/melanoma relationship is based more on a belief than science.”. . . “As with other neoplasms, the cause of melanoma remains an enigma and most probably the sun has little, if anything, to do with it.”

To conclude, there is no doubt that too much sun exposure causes severe skin sunburns, stress and skin aging, that can lead to skin cancer. Even though, there are many obvious evidences and proofs regarding conventional sun creams that are even more carcinogenic than the sun. I will explain the difference between safe organic sun creams and the regular sun creams, full of harmful ingredients in my next post.

What is the solution?

The solution is always a midway between, a middle path, that means:

– DON’T EXAGGERATE, even with sun exposure. It’s obvious that the sun radiance in peak hours (from 11 -16) is very strong and may cause severe burns! It’s not natural to be exposed on the sun in this time of the day. Even mediterranean nations, who are adapted more to sun, know there is siesta time (relax) during that time of the day. This is why we have to avoid the sun. If you will expose on sun, when it is not so strong, there is no need to worry. Use a natural organic sunscreen without harmful chemicals and apply it several times during the day. It’s better to protect your skin several times with a lower SPF than force the skin with high number of SPF such as 40 or 60. It’s just against the body nature. The higher the SPF, more toxic chemicals contains. This is the reason why organic sun creams does not have so high factors. And the reason why dermatologists claim that high SPF is good, is because they have to sell the pharmaceutical products.

– In hot summer days, when the sun radiation is high, drink a lot of pure water, so that your body will be hydrated.

– Even if you are in the shadow during the peak time (11-16h), dress with light clothes and cover the body, cause the sun rays can burn you everywhere. Imagine how Tuareg people from Sahara desert wear their clothes, long layers of natural fabric, that protect them from the sun.

Finally, don’t be so afraid about everything that the chemical industry connected with big corporations wants you to fear (=focus on). Remember this every time you think about cancer, other diseases and “harmful” sun: Where the attention goes, the energy flows.

Continuing my series of cold-pressed oils, I’d like to pay homage to one of my favorite oils: the virgin coconut oil. I also have to admit, that I’m a huge fan of coconut in all its forms. Apart all the benefits, I go mad for its divine smell and taste! Before listing all its precious benefits and properties, that my friend Sheen from Agape Oils already put together in her very educative article, I’d like to mention how I prefer using it.

I use organic coconut oil for many purposes

– for removing make-up (I adore it! for every skin type)

– as a body massage oil (excellent for every skin type and it absorbs quite quickly)

– for cooking: I love its amazing taste!

– you can also use it on your hair (I don’t feel the need, because of my short hair 🙂 but it’s one of the best natural nutrition for hair!

My friend Sheen from Agape oils wrote:

“Coconut oil provides a natural UV protection and is an excellent sunscreen lotion. It has wonderful anti-oxidant properties that protect the skin from free radical damage and when consumed or used topically on our skin, it helps our bodies absorb other nutrients more effectively, such as Vitamin E, another powerful anti-oxidant nutrient that protects the skin.

The most powerful of all coconut oils is virgin coconut oil, which is extracted from fresh coconuts. Virgin coconut oil is treasure trove of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and is also a major source of lauric acid and vitamin E. It protects the skin from infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Virgin coconut oil is ideal for infants. It is also great for the scalp and is useful in preventing dandruff and hair loss.

The versatile coconut is accepted as a health and beauty aid in many tropical countries. It conditions hair, cleanses the body, and detoxifies the skin. Coconut is also a light moisturizer that decreases excessive oil on the skin. In fact, coconut in its various forms, such as, water, pulp, oil and cream is the best way to tone up your skin and makes you glow from great health!”

In the previous article I have explained how the process of sweating works. In this article I want to explain the difference between deodorants and antiperspirants, harmful ingredients to avoid in them and how to make an amazing deodorant at home.

Antiperspirants: they prevent the formation of sweat (= interfere in the natural function processes of the body!)

Deodorants: they cover/mask the underarm odour through the addition of antimicrobial agents such as triclosan, farnesol, alcohols or ammonium compounds that try to disable and kill the bacteria(even the good ones!) on the skin.

Harmful substances to avoid in deodorants/antiperspirants

Unfortunately, most of the substances, which are acting against sweat or bacteria, is very controversial for our health. Some of the main important to avoid are:

– Aluminum salts and all aluminum compounds (aluminum chlorohydrate, ammonium aluminum sulfate, potassium aluminum sulfate, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly): can cause contact dermatitis, are related to many diseases (asthma, lung disorders, reproductive disorders, …). Studies against aluminum show also that it accumulates in the brain over time and may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancers.

– Phthalates: which may be hiding under the name “fragrance”. They are dangerous endocrine disrupters, which also affect the liver, kidneys and reproductive organs, they can cause allergies, itching, redness, breathing difficulties,…

– Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl and butyl), are all derived from toluene, a toxic petrochemical derivat. (related to contact allergies, skin sensatizations, found in breast tissue of women diagnosed with breast cancer)

How to stay fresh smelling naturally an entire day?

There are many healthy choices to choose instead of toxic chemicals who can cause many disorders. Start to look after deodorants with ingredients like vegetable glycerin, natural preservatives, herbs or herbal extracts, green tea, aloe vera juice, baking soda and natural essential oils. You can also make an amazing and easy deodorant at home. Here I share with you the recipe below. I am using this deodorant a few weeks and it works great! The deodorant is also tested by many other people who are very satisfied and now ex users of traditional antiperspirants/deodorants. The best thing is that it smells amazing and it lasts up to whole day.

Recipe for a natural deodorant

Mix corn starch and baking soda in a bowl and then add to this mixture partially melted coconut oil and the essential oil. Stir well and put this mixture in a clean pot. Start to use it after 1-2 days. You need a small amount of deodorant, as the deodorant is highly effective even in small quantities.

* I’ve added the lemongrass essential oil, which is for my taste a great choice for hot summer days. When the fresh smell of lemongrass mixes with the nice sweet smell of coconut oil, the result is a fresh and lightly sweet tropical scent.

You should know that coconut oil has natural antimicrobial properties, as does baking soda, but without killing the microorganisms that are useful in our body. The nature has provided us everything we need to balance our body, mind and spirit 🙂 I’d be happy to hear from you that you have made this deodorant at home and your thoughts about it. Or maybe you already have any other natural recipes & experiences with natural deodorants to share with me?

Today I made another version of my organic home-made lip balm. I just got a big piece of organic beeswax and so I wanted to try also this version that is even more nourishing. I am really satisfied with my new lip balm and I think I will continue to do it at home since now. I created a natural and a tinted one. It smells so good and natural, that you want to eat it 🙂

Basically, to make a lip balm at home, you need good certified organic oils and if you want aroma, add a drop of essential oil that you like. This time I wanted a natural lip balm without any smell and with a lot of nourishment for winter days.

I’ve prepared it in a small jar, which was immersed in hot water (not boiling) in another pan. First, I’ve put in the jar 2 spoons of organic cold pressed coconut virgin oil. Then, I added a few small pieces of beeswax and a tea spoon of organic honey. I stirred everything with a spoon until it all melted together. Always use more oil than beeswax, cause the oil will give the softness and oily effect on the lips. Too much beeswax makes the balm too dry and rigid. In the tinted version, I’ve added a pinch of mineral blush in a beige shade for a natural nude effect.

When the balm gets fluid, pour it quickly in small jars where it will dry.

In short, you need:

organic pure beeswax (I got it from my local beekeeper where I purchase honey)

organic virgin coconut oil (I like the one with coconut smell)

organic honey

mineral blush (optional)

I’d also like to let you know a few facts concerning these amazing ingredients that are in my lip balm:

BEESWAX

– is used since ancient times

– works well in cosmetic products because of “wax esthers” that exist in both beeswax and human skin

– is a natural hydrating ingredient that increases essential moisture in skin

– safe for sensitive skin and does not provoke allergic reactions

– does not clog pores

– healing, softening, anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties

– contains vitamin A

– an excellent emollient and support for moisturizers

– compatible with many cosmetic ingredients

Did you know? One pound of wax requires the bees to consume about ten pounds of honey!

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The editor

Dasha - (makeup) Artist with a vision of (natural) Beauty. Passionate about fashion, art, photography, painting, flowers, cooking, spiritual development, natural remedies.
I support your true, natural beauty and celebrate it with the best from natural world. It's our birthright to be and feel well!

NOTIFICATION

I write reviews about products that I like, use and that are free of toxic chemicals from my point of view. I am not paid for reviewing them. I purchase or receive the products (selected by me) for personal use and write my honest opinion about them. New contacts and collaborations are appreciated, but I cannot guarantee a good review, if it doesn't fulfill my conditions: safe ingredients and quality.

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